We’ve all used the old chestnut, “Sorry, I’m double-booked” – but only Adele would say no to a night at The Oscars.

The singer gets the gong for biggest snub of the year for declining an invitation to present a top award – because Hollywood’s biggest bash of the year is on the eve of her tour starting February 29.

Fawning Oscar bosses even offered to lay on plush private transport – with almost guaranteed shut-eye – to race Adele to her launch gig in Belfast 24 hours later but the star could not be persuaded.

Adele, winner of the Best Original Song award for "Skyfall (Image: REUTERS/ Mike Blake)

I’m told even some of Adele’s people were keen for her to revisit the event at which she won Best Song in 2013 – but she wasn’t willing to risk any chance of travel delays or distractions.

A source said: “Organisers are desperate to get her and will still do anything to make it happen but she feels the ­turnaround is too tight and will not let anything jeopardise her tour.

“She is aware things can go wrong which causes delays and also the ­potential impact of a long flight on her voice. She has dug in her heels on this one.”

Hello Oscar it's me (Image: Getty Images)

The source added: “There were people in her team who think the Academy Awards is too big a deal to miss but Adele is in a league of her own in terms of fame and success. Amazingly, she doesn’t really need it.”

Well, it is Leap Day and the ladies are in charge. Or something. And at least she didn’t say she was washing her hair.